Melbourne 2nds met in the Alma at 11:45 for their longest away trip of the season to Lincoln 3rds, the team was very different from previous weeks but still looked strongish with Moari Adam slipping in at tighthead, the towering figure of Nick parkes in the 2nd row and Steve Bell dropping down for a week. 

Match Report

The backs were experimental with Val crying off football to play at scrum half and Yates, Thwiates Devanny and a returning Dave Baker on the wing. The departure was delayed by Adam being 3/4 of an hour late but we set off and found the ground without going wrong, which is a first, and arrived with half an hour to spare.

The Lincoln team looked bigger and older than us, and the pitch was heavily sloped with a strong wind blowing down it, Nigel annoyed the opposition by taking up his full time allocation in the warm up, whilst they stood about waiting for kick off. The ref also introduced a new crouch touch hold engage procedure for scrums which had some of the older props a little confused, (what next horseless carriages, and pictures through wires). Melbourne kicked down hill with the wind and tore into Lincoln getting procession and driving forward towards the line, for the first two minutes we recycled the ball, drove in and attacked the Lincoln line and then Rich Bennett went over from 5 yards, converted by Fully out wide, 7-0 and two minutes gone, from the restart service resumed, but not only with the forwards but the backs linking well to drive into Lincoln territory, in the line out Bompie and Nigel were dominant and Lincoln did not win any ball until the 2nd half, in the scrums Melbourne took 10 minutes to settle down but always won their own ball, but soon began to mess up the Lincoln ball and Moari Adam was lifting a man 10 stone heavier and wheeling the scrum. Pop took one magnificent ball against the head reaching into the Lincoln 2nd row to pinch it.

The backs were going really well, Val was great and Fully really set up the centres with well timed pass's. Melbourne soon scored again with Fully breaking and passing to Val who ran in from 30 yards. 14-0. Melbourne then went to sleep for 10 minutes and Lincoln did have a bit more ball and territory but never looked liked scoring, a few kicks went astray and down the throat of the Lincoln Wingers who ran back dangerously and terrorized Devanny, but they were all tackled at leat 22 meters out with Steve Bell and Dave Baker tackling back, Gary Yates got a high tackle and went a bit woozy but it didn't seem to effect his game, its just he can not remember it.

The Melbourne got a 3rd try Fully kicked long and the Lincoln full back who looked like the guitarist out of tenacious D fumbled and was scragged, Bompie picked up and scored under the posts chased all the way 21-0.

At half time Nigel only had warm words for us, we were playing well against a side though not outstanding had clearly all played a bit, all half we had been quicker to the breakdown and had snuffed out any Lincoln attack.

Without the wind and hill the 2nd half had potential to be more difficult but after an initial 5 minutes of Lincoln pressure Melbourne started to work up field, Lincoln had the annoying habit of having a team meeting before everyline out that just eat up time and as it was getting dark and we were winning, we say let them meet.

Melbourne worked up field after about 10 minutes and Pop made a good break, Nick Parkes got up in support and as no Lincoln players had made the journey across the pitch handed (some what reluctantly) the ball to ever green prop David Lowson who ran in try from 25 meters in the corner. When the team had stopped laughing, Fully missed the conversion. 26-0.

Normal service resumed with more players gaining confidence to make breaks, Paul Thwaites, Pop, Bompie, Val and Fully all making good ground, eventually from a break by Rich Bennett off the back of the line, Pop made good yards and fast ball was handed to Steve Bell who ran in under the posts including a side step. Fully then missed a sitter 31-0.

The ref announced 10 minutes to go and Melbourne sure of the win backed off a bit, the ref also wanted to give Lincoln a try and with the last move of the game from a short penalty Lincoln score 31-5 final score.

Great performance all round, to travel that far with a much changed team, and win is great, but to play as well as we did was really good. Everyone played well, the back row were and quicker, the backs were incisive and the tackling was sound in the tight we did well against a larger team.

Lincoln were good hosts and the game was played in good spirit, they were a better team than some we have played in the pennant and had beaten Newark which gives us hope for our return match.

Pie, Potato Wedges in a southern fried coating and beans for the meal afterwards

Next weeks dress code Jeans and Shirts (or tops) if you feel like it.T

he backs were experimental with Val crying off football to play at scrum half and Yates, Thwiates Devanny and a returning Dave Baker on the wing. The departure was delayed by Adam being 3/4 of an hour late but we set off and found the ground without going wrong, which is a first, and arrived with half an hour to spare.

The Lincoln team looked bigger and older than us, and the pitch was heavily sloped with a strong wind blowing down it, Nigel annoyed the opposition by taking up his full time allocation in the warm up, whilst they stood about waiting for kick off. The ref also introduced a new crouch touch hold engage procedure for scrums which had some of the older props a little confused, (what next horseless carriages, and pictures through wires). Melbourne kicked down hill with the wind and tore into Lincoln getting procession and driving forward towards the line, for the first two minutes we recycled the ball, drove in and attacked the Lincoln line and then Rich Bennett went over from 5 yards, converted by Fully out wide, 7-0 and two minutes gone, from the restart service resumed, but not only with the forwards but the backs linking well to drive into Lincoln territory, in the line out Bompie and Nigel were dominant and Lincoln did not win any ball until the 2nd half, in the scrums Melbourne took 10 minutes to settle down but always won their own ball, but soon began to mess up the Lincoln ball and Moari Adam was lifting a man 10 stone heavier and wheeling the scrum. Pop took one magnificent ball against the head reaching into the Lincoln 2nd row to pinch it.

The backs were going really well, Val was great and Fully really set up the centres with well timed pass's. Melbourne soon scored again with Fully breaking and passing to Val who ran in from 30 yards. 14-0. Melbourne then went to sleep for 10 minutes and Lincoln did have a bit more ball and territory but never looked liked scoring, a few kicks went astray and down the throat of the Lincoln Wingers who ran back dangerously and terrorized Devanny, but they were all tackled at leat 22 meters out with Steve Bell and Dave Baker tackling back, Gary Yates got a high tackle and went a bit woozy but it didn't seem to effect his game, its just he can not remember it.

The Melbourne got a 3rd try Fully kicked long and the Lincoln full back who looked like the guitarist out of tenacious D fumbled and was scragged, Bompie picked up and scored under the posts chased all the way 21-0.

At half time Nigel only had warm words for us, we were playing well against a side though not outstanding had clearly all played a bit, all half we had been quicker to the breakdown and had snuffed out any Lincoln attack.

Without the wind and hill the 2nd half had potential to be more difficult but after an initial 5 minutes of Lincoln pressure Melbourne started to work up field, Lincoln had the annoying habit of having a team meeting before everyline out that just eat up time and as it was getting dark and we were winning, we say let them meet.

Melbourne worked up field after about 10 minutes and Pop made a good break, Nick Parkes got up in support and as no Lincoln players had made the journey across the pitch handed (some what reluctantly) the ball to ever green prop David Lowson who ran in try from 25 meters in the corner. When the team had stopped laughing, Fully missed the conversion. 26-0.

Normal service resumed with more players gaining confidence to make breaks, Paul Thwaites, Pop, Bompie, Val and Fully all making good ground, eventually from a break by Rich Bennett off the back of the line, Pop made good yards and fast ball was handed to Steve Bell who ran in under the posts including a side step. Fully then missed a sitter 31-0.

The ref announced 10 minutes to go and Melbourne sure of the win backed off a bit, the ref also wanted to give Lincoln a try and with the last move of the game from a short penalty Lincoln score 31-5 final score.

Great performance all round, to travel that far with a much changed team, and win is great, but to play as well as we did was really good. Everyone played well, the back row were and quicker, the backs were incisive and the tackling was sound in the tight we did well against a larger team.

Lincoln were good hosts and the game was played in good spirit, they were a better team than some we have played in the pennant and had beaten Newark which gives us hope for our return match.

Pie, Potato Wedges in a southern fried coating and beans for the meal afterwards

Next weeks dress code Jeans and Shirts (or tops) if you feel like it.

Team

1. Lowson
2. Lakin
3. Glazby
4. Breakwell
5. Parkes
6. Bell
7. Thompson
8. Bennett
9. Vallis
10. Fulton
11. Devanny
12. Thwaites
13. Yates
14. Baker
15. Brown